Exploitation is a two-way street (was a bunch of other threads)

Subject: Exploitation is a two-way street (was a bunch of other threads)
From: Andrew Plato <gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 14:12:05 -0700 (PDT)


> After 5 years, I left a 'Job for Life' with my last employer
> (a Fortune 500 company), where many departments routinely
> require 50+ hours weekly for salaried employees. That's
> exploitation.

Employees exploit their employers as well.

- Ever walked out the door with some office suppliers?
- Checked out early on Friday?
- Taken a sick day when you really weren't sick.
- Slacked off at work
- Bitched incessantly about how your tender genius isn't more appropriately
respected?
- Wasted time & resources.

Just because your employer has a billion in assets doesn't mean its "less
wrong" to take advantage of them.

The screw turns both ways. For every employer screwing employees, there are
just as many employees screwing their employers.

If you see employment as an adversarial relationship, you will probably be
treated as an adversary. If you see employment as a mutual exchange of labor
and pay where both sides get something they want, then you'll be treated
better.

You are not promised comfort, love, or acceptance at a job. You get paid, some
benefits, and hopefully a sense of accomplishment. If the pay isn't enough, or
the environment isn't to your liking you have the freedom to walk out the door
and never come back.

This is an appallingly simplistic concept that is routinely misunderstood by
unionist types. If you take a reasoned approach to your career, it will be a
lot easier to control what and who your work for. Your rationality and
professionalism will be rewarded with good pay and respect. Alternatively, if
you see yourself as a victim and a cog in the machine, you will be treated as
such and given lame pay and low respect.

As for the imposition of values. I think what John meant is don't assume your
well-ordered vision of utopia is shared by all. Just because YOU think 50 hours
a week is exploitation doesn't mean we all agree with you. I think 50 hours a
week is pretty normal and wouldn't complain much about it. If this is
exploitation to you, quit your job immediately and locate an employer that more
appropriately meets your job requirements.

Andrew Plato



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